Vehicle-spring.



L. L. SHEDDAN.

VEHICLE SPRING.

APPLICATION FILED 0UT.19.1905.

PATENTED OCT. 2, 190B Juucufoz 6 w Lea/4149x4630;

attoznu PATENT-01 E193;

" LEON L. sI-IEDDA'N, or FAYEIIEVILLE. TENNESSEE V vantage-spouse.

To all whom it may concern:

.Be it known that 1, Leon L. 'SHEDDLN a,- citizen of the United' States, residingat B syetteville, in the county of Lincoln and State of Tennessee, have invented new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Springs, of which the following is a specification.

The-invention relates generally to an ims provement-in vehicle-springs, and particu- 1 arly to a. cushioning means for such springs constructed and arranged toiaourrteract any sudden'inovementof the sprmgm use.

The-mam-ob ect of the present invention -.-is' the production of mcsxwadapted for ready !5 connection to the leaves of on ordinary veis. liiele-sp'ring or to the running-gear. and vehicle-body and serving when in place-to cushion and retard'any sudden compression f onextension of said spring thereby-avoiding ndstraining or breakingshohks to the-spring .andinsuring a. regular even mqvernent'of the ehic'lc-hody supported by' the s ring. .The invention in its -preferr details of 1 '1-1 construction will be descrihcd in the follow- 'zg -ing specification, reference hein had to the v frwcqmpenying'drawings, in wine Figure"! is a rear view of a .vehicle provide with my improved spring-cushioning device. 2 isan enlarged sectional view, 39 partly in elevation, of the cushioning device. 3 is aplan of the cylinden-supporting Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a vehicle-bod su ported from an axle 2 through the meeiurn of one or more howsprings 3, all of which parts may he of any usual or preferred construction, as the y form no material part of the present invention.

A. cushioning device comprises a cylinder 4, closed at the u )per end' and open at the lower end, in which is mounted for reciprocation a iiston 5. The upper and lower surfaces 0 the piston are provided with dishshaped aching-rings 6 vand '7, respectively,

the peripheral edge flanges 8 oi which are axle ted to fit snu ly against the interior.-

su ace of the cylln er and he held in practically air-tight relation thereto by the prossure above and below the piston when in uporation, as will he later apparent. The piston is provided with diametrically o posite ports 9, closed at their upper on s t llUUgll the medium of ordinary leaf-valves 10, so arranged with relation to the ports as to be held Specification of Letters Patent.

A uc'tom ma mm 1 9, 1905. soul in. 253,602.

Patented Oct. 2, 1e00,

piston when the latter is moving in the up ward direction.

c The 0 n end of the cylinder proper is rovided with a conical head 11, arrange for threaded connection with the lower end of -'the cylinder and serving, with the exception of the ports hereinafter noted, to close said cylinder against the admission of air: The head is formed with-o suitablefdepcnding flange 12, providing a bearingfor'o'pistonrod l3, which extends within the-cylinder and is terminally secured to the piston 5;

The piston-rod,- which is'approxim ately'of -tweensthe caves of the spring, is movahlyfio connected at its lowe'rend to a pin 14, to the opposite end of which is connected or-formed 'integzral an inverted-L-shapedbracket-15, the as end of which is turned downwardly cal arm of the 'brae st and spaced therefrorn approximately the width of the lower leaf of 5 t esprmgl; i Asplit 'lzlagi mi-ring 17 is removabl se- 1 cured to'the.e{ in er 4 through the rn um of s. elsnipingolt 18 and is provided at diametrically opposite points with studs 19. An upper bracket 205s secured to the COIl'lprising a plate 21, ada ted to be be ted or otherwise secured to t e upper leaf of the spring, and branching arms 22, projecting from said plate and terminally engaging the studs 19. The curvature of the arms 22 is on a eater radius than-that of the ring 17, there )1 providing for a limited independent movement of the cylinder 4 with relation tothe liraclcctLZO to compensate for any irregu-. larity in the movement of the 8 ring.

Near the upper end the wall 0 the cylinderis provided with a small port or opening 23, while the head ll is also provided with ports 24, normally closed againstthe sseoge of air ll'uln within the cylinder by eat-valves I 25. By prefereneethe ports 9 in the piston ore of s? ightliy greater diameter than'the out- 10c let-port 23 o the cylinder, whereby the cushinning and retarding effect under the compression oi the spring is slightly greater than the cushioning effect under the extension of in use the cushioning device is secured to the respective leaves of 'the spring 3, the plate 21 being secured to the upper leaf and in closed position by'the pressure above the 55 f a length ual to the normal. distunce beat 16 approximatel parallel with thevertr-f .75 t I.

the spring. :05

' spring to rest at the point of compression in closed position.

necessitated by the weight to which it is subjected. In the upward movement of the pisiton air from without the cylinder will readily find its way throughthe openings 24 in the head, thereby preventing the formation of a vacuum below the iston. Any sudden reverse movement of the spring is likewise counteracted and retarded, as in such movement the piston moves downward and compresses the airb'elow it, the excess of pressure from within serving to maintain the valve 25 In this movement of the parts, however, the V valves 10 are freely opened by the upward pressure; but as the ports 9 are comparativel small the escape of air therethroughis grar ual and insufficient to defeat the eushioning'efi'ect'desiredf The pressure of air above and below the piston in its res ective movements will operate to press t e flange 8 of the respective achingrings tightly against the surface of tlie cylinder, and thereby prevent leakage at this point.

The cushioning device described is adapted for ready connection to and use with any form of bow-spring and mlty be readily applied thereto, serving when in place to effectively cushion and retard any sudden or violent movement of the spring means, causing said leaves under the influence of any sudden jar to gradually and uniformly yield to such jar. he construction therefore effectively guards against the breaking of the spring under the influence of any sudden demand upon it and by its insuring a gradual movement of the spring under all circumstances materially increases the ease and comfort of the vehicle.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. Acushioning device for springs com Pris ing a cylinder closed at the upper and lower ends, the upper end of the cylinder being formed with an escapeport, and the lower end formed with valved inlet-ports, a pistonhead movable within the cyl in dcr and formed with ports closed against the passage of air from above the piston, a piston-rod c0nncctfrom the operative plane of the spring.

ed to the piston, and means for supporting 6o said cylinder and rod from the spring-leaves.

' 2. A cushioning device for springs'comrising a cylinder closed at the upper and lower ends, the upper end ofthe cylinder being formed with an escape-port and the lower a end of the cylinder formed with ports closed against the passage of air from within the cylinder, a piston-head movable within the cylinder and formed with ports closed against the passage of air from above the piston, a piston-rod secured to the piston headf and extending beyond the cylinder, and brackets connected to the cylinder and to the piston rod and adapted .forconnection with therespcctive leaves of the spring. t

ow-spring', bf

3. The combination with a b a cushioning devicesupported'beyondfthe operative plane of' the ispring'-an'da dapted to cushion the movementof :said-" leay'tesij in both directions, means for securii'iigl'sai d vice to the lower leafof the spring, v for securing the device tothe iipp'eir-l avsfof' the spring, said latter means being adapted to permit an'independent pivotal movement i of. the upper end of the:'deviceto 'and fmm the operative plane of the' spring,

. 4. The combinationlwitlifa bones I a eushioning device arrangedbe on gtjhe-op' erative plane of'thespring an i'adapted to-a cushion the movement of said leavesiII both o; 4

direct-ions, means for securing-said device to the lower leaf of' the spring,anda..bracket pivotallys cured to the upper end of'thedeE-f vice and. an armed to be secured to the'up er I leaf of the spring, whereby the upper-en "of 5 said device is arranged for'movementgtoand 5. A cushioning device adapted to cushion the relative movement of the running-gear and body of a vehicle, said device comprising I a cylinder closed at both ends and mcvably secured in place wholly beyond the operative plane of the spring, a piston-head cushioned in both movements 'within the cylinder, and a piston-rod connected with said head and exm5 tending beyond the cylinder, said cylinder and rod being respectivl 1y connected to the vehicle to cushion the body and running-gear in their relative movements, the connection for the cylinder permitting an independent no pivotal movement of said cylinder to and from the operative plane of the spring.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature j in presence of two witnesses] 5 LEON L; SHEDDAN. Witnesses:

NORMAN R. PEARSON, C. (ll-hurls. 

